Intra-mammary teat sealant formulation and method of using same to reduce or eliminate visual defects in aged cheeses

ABSTRACT

Described is an intra-mammary teat sealant and a corresponding method of forming a physical barrier in the teat canal of a non-human animal for prophylactic treatment of mammary disorders during the animal&#39;s dry period. The method includes the step of infusing a teat seal formulation including a metal salt in a glyceride-containing gel base into the teat canal of the animal. The method also prevents the formation of black spot defect in dairy products, especially cheddar cheese, made from the milk of animals so treated.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/755,807, filed Apr. 7, 2010, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,956,167 on May 1, 2018, and which claims priority to provisional application Ser. No. 61/207,879, filed Apr. 8, 2009, the content of all of which is incorporated herein by reference. This application is also related to application Ser. No. 11/869,966, filed Oct. 10, 2007, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,906,138 on Mar. 15, 2011, and which also is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to a metal-containing, intra-mammary teat sealant to prevent mastitis in dry cows. The intra-mammary teat sealant does not cause visual defects in dairy foods (especially cheese) made from milk from treated animals. The invention is further directed to a method to prevent “black spot defect” (BSD) in cheese.

BACKGROUND

Mastitis in dairy herds is one of the most costly and difficult diseases encountered by dairy producers. Conventional therapies aimed at curing clinical mastitis include intra-mammary antimicrobial therapy. Despite the commercial availability of numerous intra-mammary antimicrobial products, cure rates for clinical mastitis remain perplexingly low: 46% for Streptococcus spp., 21% for Staphylococcus spp., and only 9% for Staphylococcus aureus mastitis. See Wilson et al. (1996) National Mastitis Council Proceedings 164-165, and Crandall et al. (2005) NMC Annual Meeting Proceedings 215-216. Thus, dairy producers often manage the disease simply by culling mastitis-prone animals from their herds.

Because of the difficulty in treating mastitis, prevention of new intra-mammary infections is a major focus in the dairy industry. The rate of new infections is significantly higher during the dry period as compared to new infections during the lactating period. (For example, one study showed that 61% of all new gram-negative intra-mammary infections occurred during the dry period. See Todhunter et al. (1995) J. Dairy Sci. 78:2366.) The three-week period immediately following dry off, and the two weeks prior to calving, are periods particularly prone to new infections. Thus, in recent years dairy producers have focused a considerable amount of effort in “preventive maintenance” of cows during their dry period.

In April of 2003, an internal (or “intra-mammary”) teat sealant (ITS) for use in dry cows was introduced in the US market. Marketed in the US under the “ORBESEAL” trademark (US Trademark Registration Nos. 2,772,198 and 3,120,693), the product was developed in New Zealand. The “ORBESEAL”-brand ITS introduced into the US market contains 65% w/w bismuth sub-nitrate dispersed in a viscous paste. The ITS product does not contain any antibiotics, nor does the product contain any active antimicrobial agents. The ITS is injected into the teat end using a tubular applicator syringe, in the same fashion as applying a dry cow antibiotic. The ITS product fills the fissures and folds of the teat canal, thereby creating a physical barrier to pathogens. See U.S. Pat. No. 6,254,881, issued Jul. 3, 2001, incorporated herein by reference.

Initial studies of the “ORBESEAL”-brand product in New Zealand concluded that the product functioned as well as a broad spectrum, long-acting intra-mammary antibiotic in preventing new intra-mammary infections at calving and in preventing clinical appearance of mastitis through the first five (5) months of lactation. See Woolford et al. (1998) New Zealand Veterinary Journal 46:1. A more recent study in the US also concluded that this ITS product improved the udder health of cows already infused with cloxacillin benzathine. See Godden et al. (2003) J. Dairy Sci. 86:3899-3911. Thus, the “ORBESEAL”-brand ITS has proven to be an effective tool in reducing the number of new cases of mastitis in dairy cows during their dry period. Despite its relatively recent introduction into the US market, the “ORBESEAL”-brand product has enjoyed widespread market acceptance and is used extensively in US dairy herds. In short, the “ORBESEAL”-branded product is very good for its intended purpose of preventing mastitis.

Subsequent to the introduction of the “ORBESEAL”-brand ITS product in the US, a visual defect in aged dairy products, most notably aged cheddar cheeses, began to appear. The visual defect takes the form of small, black spots (roughly 0.5 to 5 mm in diameter) that appear throughout the aged cheese. The spots are a purely aesthetic, visual defect that lowers the graded quality (and hence the market value) of the cheese affected with the problem. The spots are not accompanied by any organoleptic defect in the cheese. Cheese affected with the black spots is saleable, albeit at a lower grade than unaffected cheeses. The defect has been termed “black spot defect” (BSD).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first version of the invention is directed to a method of forming a physical barrier in the teat canal of a non-human animal for prophylactic treatment of mammary disorders during the animal's dry period and simultaneously preventing BSD in dairy products made with the animal's milk. The method comprises infusing a teat seal formulation into the teat canal of the animal. The teat seal formulation may contain bismuth or may be bismuth-free. The formulation is administered in an amount sufficient to form a physical barrier to entry of microorganisms into the teat, but does not cause black spot defect in diary products made with milk from the animal. Preferably, the teat sealant is devoid of anti-infective agents (i.e., the teat sealant preferably does not contain antibiotics or other anti-infective active agents). Preferably the method comprises infusing a teat seal formulation comprising at least about 30% by weight of a non-toxic metal salt, more preferably about 50% to about 75% by weight of the non-toxic metal salt, and more preferably still about 65% by weight of the non-toxic metal salt. The purpose of the salt is primarily to impart sufficient density to the composition so that the ITS “settles” into the teat canal.

In one version of the method, the non-toxic metal salt is selected from the group consisting of bismuth salts, titanium salts, zinc salts, barium salts, and combinations of these salts. The most preferred salts are bismuth sub-nitrate, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, barium sulfate and combinations of these salts. Other non-toxic salts of these metal are explicitly within the scope of the invention, such as halides, sulfates, phosphates, carbonates, nitrates, sulphamates, acetates, citrates, lactates, tartrates, malonates, oxalates, salicylates, propionates, succinates, fumarates, maleates, and the like.

The gel base can be any suitable gel formulation, a host of which are known in the pharmaceutical arts. The preferred gel base comprises mono-, di-, and/or triglycerides, which give vastly improved cleanability. The glycerides may contain identical side-chains or different side-chains, which may be derived from saturated or unsaturated fatty acids. Thus, by way of non-limiting example, the mono-, di-, and/or triglycerides may comprise side-chains derived from decanoic acid, lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, pentadecanoic acid, stearic acid, arachidic acid, behenic acid, lignoceric acid, margaric acid, myristoleic acid, palmitoleic acid, oleic acid, gadoleic acid, erucic acid, ricinoleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, licanic acid, margaroleic acid, arachidonic acid clupanadonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, and the like. Glycerides having longer or shorter side-chains may also be used. The glycerides may comprise, or be derived from, a natural animal or vegetable oil or fat, such as (but not limited to) animal fats, canola oil, coconut oil, corn oil, cottonseed oil, linseed oil, palm oil, palm kernel oil, rapeseed oil, soya bean oil, sunflower oil, fish oil, algae oil, and the like. Particularly preferred gel bases are canola oil, corn oil, and/or cottonseed oil. There are a host of commercial suppliers of glycerides, such as ABITEC Corporation, Columbus, Ohio. ABITEC's product “CAPTEX 355,” catalog nos. 65381-09-1 and 73398-61-5, a caprylic acid triglyceride, works very well in the present invention.

Thus, in its most preferred form, the intra-mammary teat sealant comprises, in combination, a gel base comprising a glyceride; and a non-toxic metal salt dispersed in the gel base. The preferred corresponding method thus comprises infusing an amount of a teat seal formulation into the teat canal of the animal. The teat seal formulation comprises a non-toxic metal salt dispersed in a gel phase comprising a glyceride, wherein the amount of the teat seal formulation infused is sufficient to form a physical barrier to entry of microorganisms into the teat canal. The teat seal formulation also does not cause black spot defect in diary products made with milk from the animal.

Another version of the invention is directed to an intra-mammary teat sealant consisting essentially of a gel base including mono-, di-, and/or triglycerides, in combination with a non-toxic metal salt dispersed in the gel base, wherein the metal salt is bismuth sub-nitrate. As noted earlier, the teat sealant preferably comprises at least about 30% by weight, more preferably about 50% to about 75% by weight, and more preferably still about 65% by weight of the metal salt.

Yet another version of the invention is an improvement to intra-mammary teat sealants. Specifically, in a method of forming a physical barrier in the teat canal of a non-human animal for prophylactic treatment of mammary disorders during the animal's dry period, wherein the method comprises the step of infusing a seal formulation into the teat canal of the animal without an anti-infective agent, the improvement of the present invention comprises infusing a teat seal formulation comprising a non-toxic metal salt(s) in a glyceride-containing gel base. The improvement prevents the formation of black spot defect in dairy products made from the milk of treated animals.

Numerical ranges as used herein are intended to include every number and subset of numbers contained within that range, whether specifically disclosed or not. Further, these numerical ranges should be construed as providing support for a claim directed to any number or subset of numbers in that range. For example, a disclosure of from 1 to 10 should be construed as supporting a range of from 2 to 8, from 3 to 7, 5, 6, from 1 to 9, from 3.6 to 4.6, from 3.5 to 9.9, and so forth.

All references to singular characteristics or limitations of the present invention shall include the corresponding plural characteristic or limitation, and vice-versa, unless otherwise specified or clearly implied to the contrary by the context in which the reference is made.

All combinations of method or process steps as used herein can be performed in any order, unless otherwise specified or clearly implied to the contrary by the context in which the referenced combination is made.

The methods of the present invention can comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of the essential elements and limitations of the methods and products described herein, as well as any additional or optional ingredients, components, or limitations described herein or otherwise useful in synthetic organic chemistry.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B are photographs of a typical black spot defect in an 18 kg block of aged white cheddar cheese. FIG. 1A shows the surface of the block, with a black spot defect readily visible. FIG. 1B is a magnified view (with a superimposed ruler) showing the dimensions of the defect. Such spots are equally distributed throughout the cheese.

FIG. 2 is an electron photomicrograph of a black spot defect exhibiting characteristic hair- or rod-like structures of bismuth (III) sulfide nanorods. No such structures appeared in any non-BSD cheeses or non-BSD cheese regions tested. The rods shown in FIG. 2 have diameters ranging from 37.09 nm to 129.33 nm.

FIG. 3 is an electron photomicrograph of a single rod-like structure from a black spot defect region. The rod shown in 130.88 nm in diameter and exhibits a line bisecting the length of the rod.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are images of laboratory-induced black spot defects. In FIG. 4A, the various components of “ORBESEAL”-brand intra-mammary teat sealant (ITS) were blended with cheese and each spot was photographed immediately. FIG. 4B shows the same spots photographed after exposure either to volatiles from aged cheddar cheese or hydrogen sulfide gas. Sites 4 and 5 contain bismuth subnitrate and the intact “ORBESEAL”-brand ITS formulation, respectively.

FIG. 5 is a histogram depicting the cleanability of various types of ITS's.

FIG. 6 is a graph depicting viscosity of the ITS formulations at different temperatures. X-axis depicts temperature in ° C., Y-axis depicts viscosity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Starting in late 2003, a number of inquiries have been made by cheese makers to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Food Science and Center for Dairy Research (CDR), seeking information about the appearance of a novel “black spot defect” in aged cheeses, notably aged cheddar cheese. Historically, grey to black discolorations in cheese have been the result of several different and distinct causes, including the growth of specific microorganisms (e.g., certain environmental propionibacteria or molds) or the contamination of cheese with food-grade lubricant debris. The particular BSD noted by the cheese makers, however, did not fit the profile of a bacterial contaminant or other spoilage organism, nor did it appear to be lubricant debris that had found its way into the milk stream or other debris introduced during the cheese-making process.

Thus, the first step was to determine the chemical structure of the black spot defect. A great deal of effort was initially made to extract the affected regions of BSD cheese. Extraction efforts using a wide spectrum of organic solvents of varying polarity, hydrophobicity, etc., proved fruitless as a means of isolating any type of organic pigment mass from the cheese matrix. Although extraction of the BSD with organic solvents was not successful, the extraction efforts did yield useful data. Notably, because the pigment did not dissolve or diffuse into such solvents, it could be concluded (with a high degree of probability) that the black spot pigment likewise would not dissolve or diffuse within the cheese matrix itself.

Visual examination of a growing number of cheese samples exhibiting the defect (samples accumulated from commercial cheese makers) confirmed this conclusion—the black spot pigment is well contained and does not appear to diffuse into the cheese matrix. See FIGS. 1A and 1B, which are photographs of a typical 18 kg block of aged, white cheddar cheese affected with the BSD. FIG. 1A is a photograph of the outer surface of the cheese block. FIG. 1B is a magnified view of a single black spot, with a ruler superimposed on the image to show the dimensions of the spot. Spots such as the one shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B typically are equally distributed throughout the cheese block, ranging in size from <1 mm to about 5 mm in diameter. The frequency of the spots within any given 18 kg cheese block varies widely, from <10 per block to well over 100.

There were some anecdotal reports received from cheese makers that specific aging and storage strategies might aid in dissolving or diffusing the spots to the point that they are no longer visually noticeable. (Because the defect is not accompanied by any organoleptic deficiency, “fading” the spots would ameliorate the condition.) Such an effect, however, is highly unlikely given the stability of the pigment to the organic solvents employed in the extraction efforts. In short, the extraction experiments performed by the present inventor used solvents having hydrophobicities similar to milk fat. If the black spot pigment dissolved or diffused into the cheese matrix itself (via an aging or storage protocol), the pigment should likewise readily dissolve or diffuse into an organic solvent having physical characteristics similar to milk fat. That result did not occur in the lab. Moreover, given the typical pH/acidic environment in cheese, and the typical aging/shelf life periods associated with most aged cheddar-type cheeses (0.5 to 2 years), the anecdotal evidence that the defect can be ameliorated via aging or storage protocols is without merit.

One experiment, however, proved most enlightening: the black spot pigment is readily dissolved in nitric acid. This strongly suggested that the pigment was an inorganic salt. Coupled with the timing of the first appearance of the defect, a working hypothesis was formulated, namely that the ITS was either a causative agent of (or at least correlated with) the BSD. The discovery that the black spot pigment readily dissolves in acid supported a further hypothesis that the pigment may be comprised of bismuth III sulfide. Thus, it was concluded the “ORBESEAL”-brand product, which in the US contains 65% by weight of a bismuth-containing salt, was likely being inadvertently introduced into the milk stream. As noted above, the “ORBESEAL”-brand product has been commercially successful because it forms a tight physically barrier to the entry of pathogens into the teat canal. However, removing the product from a treated animal requires stripping of the animal's teats. It appeared that some of the ITS remained in the teats after stripping and was finding its way into the cheese milk.

The next phase of research operated pursuant to a hypothesis that bismuth III sulfide was in fact the causative agent of the BSD. Bismuth subnitrate itself is white and relatively chemically inert. Thus, its trace presence in fluid milk, mozzarella cheese, and yogurt is not readily apparent visually. However, in aged cheeses with high flavor intensity, the black spot defect appears prominently. Thus, it was hypothesized that bismuth III sulfide (a black, relatively insoluble salt) was the product of a reaction between bismuth subnitrate (from the ITS) and hydrogen sulfide produced within the aging cheese by the actions of ripening microflora, enzymes, and certain cofactors acting on the protein/amino acid components of cheese.

In short, the hypothesis was that bismuth subnitrate made its way into the milk stream due to incomplete removal of the ITS prior to milking. The bismuth subnitrate then reacted with hydrogen sulfide to yield bismuth III sulfide according to Equation 1 4BiNO₃(OH)₂BiO(OH)+H₂S→Bi₂S₃(insol., black)  (Eq. 1) The product, bismuth Ill sulfide (or simply bismuth sulfide) is a relatively insoluble, black salt.

In addition to having a specific elemental target, bismuth, it was hypothesized that, under the conditions or chemical environment present within the cheese matrix, the Bi₂S₃ molecules would form a crystalline structure referred to in the literature as nanorods or nanowhiskers. See W. Zhang et al. (2001) Sol. State Comm. 119:143-146 and B. Zhang et al. (2006) J. Phys. Chem. 110:8978-8985. These bismuth-containing nanorods would thus constitute light-diffracting particles capable of imparting the grey to black hue seen in the black spot defect.

Efforts were then focused on confirming: 1) the elemental presence of bismuth in the black spot defects; and 2) confirming the physical presence of bismuth Ill sulfide nanorod structures within the black spot defects.

Confirming the presence of bismuth within the black spots was investigated using inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICPMS). AOAC International (Association of Analytical Communities) method 993.14 was used. The first efforts screened multiple black spots for the presence of several elements that could be contributing to BSD. The initial experiments focused on metal salts/oxides typical of those found in milk- and cheese-handling/conveying equipment, and other residual metal derivatives present in food-grade processing. As a measure of control, cheese compositional analyses were conducted. Specifically, protein, ash, and moisture were measured using methods 2001.14, 935.42, and 926.08, of the Official Methods of Analysis, AOAC 17^(th) Edition, respectively (copyright 2000, ISBN: 0935584-67-6). Fat was measured according to the method described in the Official Methods of Analysis, AOAC 17th Edition.

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies were performed as follows: approximately 100 μl double-distilled water was added to samples and the mixture was pulverized into a suspension with a glass rod. Approximately 5 μl aliquots of suspended sample were deposited onto polyvinyl alcohol-formaldehyde acetal-coated 300 mesh copper TEM grids (Ted Pella, Inc., Redding, Calif.). Excess sample was wicked away with small sections of filter paper and the remaining sample was dried to the surface of the grid at room temperature. In some cases, NANO-W-brand TEM negative stain (Nanoprobes, Incorporated, Yaphank, N.Y.) was applied over the dried sample to enhance contrast and visibility. Specimens were observed with a Philips CM 120 electron microscope and images were collected with a MegaView 3 Digital camera (from SIS, Ringoes, N.J.). Measurements were taken with SIS-brand analysis software (Ringoes, N.J.) calibrated with reference samples of known lengths.

ICPMS results demonstrated the presence of the elements chromium, copper, iron, nickel, and bismuth in the BSD region. Although incremental increases in the elements chromium, copper, iron, and nickel were found, bismuth concentrations in the BSD region were routinely three orders of magnitude greater than the same cheese assayed in non-BSD areas. These results show that bismuth is the only element present in sufficient quantities to participate in a pigment-generating reaction.

Several hundred TEM images of BSD regions of cheese samples were captured with a single, consistent conclusion. Nanorods typical of those reported in the literature cited above were uniquely present in the BSD cheese region. An example of such an image is presented in FIG. 2. The nanorod structures shown in FIG. 2 are too small to be readily detected with a light microscope. The nanorods shown in FIG. 2 range in diameter from about 69 nm to about 130 nm. The nanorods are very stable to the potentially abusive conditions of TEM. The rods appear to have a slightly mottled surface and they exhibit a characteristic line running the length of the nanorod. See FIG. 3, which is an increased magnification view of a single nanorod. The presence of such structures is consistent with the presence of bismuth sulfide nanorods formed under the conditions present in the cheese matrix.

To confirm the reactivity of bismuth subnitrate as a reactant in forming bismuth Ill sulfide nanorods, additional assays were conducted to see if BSD could be purposefully recreated in the lab. In short, cheeses were manufactured with known amounts of ITS components and subjected to either the authentic volatile gasses produced by maturing cheeses or exposed directly to the hypothesized bismuth subnitrate co-reactant, hydrogen sulfide gas. In both situations, the responses were invariably the same: When cheese samples containing bismuth subnitrate or the complete ITS formulation were exposed to authentic cheese volatiles or to “chemical standard”-grade H₂S gas, each formed identical black pigmentation with the accompanying presence of nano-rod structures, further confirming that bismuth subnitrate is the culprit in BSD. The results are shown in FIG. 4. No other ITS component formed black spots when so exposed. Furthermore, the susceptible sites formed identically black pigmentation when exposed to either authentic cheese volatiles or to hydrogen sulfide gas, thus confirming that hydrogen sulfide gas was the suspected co-reactant.

From a cheese manufacturing and aging or ripening standpoint, it is not reasonable to consider targeting the elimination of hydrogen sulfide gas production as a means of controlling BSD. Hydrogen sulfide is a highly aroma active compound, the product of microbial, enzymatic and co-factor activities against sulfur-containing amino acids such as cysteine. See Arfi et al., (2002) Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 58:503-510. There is ample research to support the claim that hydrogen sulfide gas is a necessary and/or valued component of typical aged cheddar cheese flavor. See Burbank & Qian (2005) J. Chrom. 1066:149-157. Even if a scheme was devised to eliminate the production of hydrogen sulfide (by interrupting of dozens of complex metabolic pathways) the resulting final product runs the risk of a flavor character unacceptable to cheese graders and consumers.

EXAMPLES

The following Examples are included solely to provide a more complete description of the invention disclosed and claimed herein. The Examples do not limit the invention in any way.

Example 1

A test ITS using a combination of zinc oxide and titanium oxide as the metal salts was formulated. The test ITS was identical to the “ORBESEAL”-brand formulation, with the exception that it did not contain any bismuth or bismuth-containing salts. The test ITS comprised zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, mineral oil (30-40%), and aluminium stearate.

To prepare a batch of ITS, liquid paraffin (e.g., mineral oil) is delivered into a suitable vessel equipped with a mixer. Aluminum stearate is added and the mixture is stirred and heated to about 160° C. until homogeneous (about two hours).

The non-toxic, non-bismuth containing salt is then added in portions to the mixture, with stirring, until the desired amount of metal salt has been added. The mixture is then stirred until homogenous. The products is then transferred into conventional injector tubes for intra-teat administration.

Example 2

The object of this Example was to compare retention within the teats of non-lactating dairy cows of an ITS that did not include bismuth sub-nitrate as compared to the “ORBESEAL”-brand product.

The study was performed at the Blaine Dairy of the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW), in Arlington, Wis. Sixteen (16) cows (n=64 teats) were enrolled on the day of dry off. All enrolled cows were required to have four functional quarters and no visible sign of mastitis. All cows were dried off and received intramammary antibiotic dry cow therapy (DCT) according to standard UW dairy herd protocols. Parity and milk yield (at dry off) were recorded for each cow. Upon initial enrolment, teats were scored for shape, length, diameter and degree of teat end hyperkeratosis. Within each cow, two teats were assigned to receive the “ORBESEAL”-brand ITS and two teats were assigned to receive the test ITS. The administration protocol was designed to ensure that each product was administered uniformly among teat locations, eight teats each per product administered in each location (right-rear, right-front, left-rear, left-front). Sealant tubes were weighed before and after administration to determine the net volume administered. Prior to receiving DCT & the internal teat sealant, teat ends were cleaned using a single 70% isopropanol alcohol wipe and partial insertion technique was used to reduce the probability of introducing teat skin pathogens. After administration of the internal sealant, teats were dipped with an external teat disinfectant.

Teats were examined on Days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 28, 42 and at calving to detect redness, swelling and/or sealant leakage. On Days 14, 28, 42 and at calving, sealant was removed from one teat (eight teats for each sealant per removal day) of each cow by hand stripping. The removed sealant was collected with the first milk into graduated 50 ml plastic vials. The vials were centrifuged (3000 rpm×5-7 minutes), the supernatant rinsed, and the recovered sealant weighed. The amount of recovered sealant was compared at each period between the test ITS-treated teats and the “ORBESEAL”-brand ITS-treated teats. Follow up samples were collected at Day 1 post-calving using the same procedure. At all sampling periods, after removal of the sealant, teats were dipped with an external teat disinfectant. After calving, quarter milk samples were aseptically collected from all quarters and cultured to identify intramammary infections.

Group Characteristics—Teat Length and Volume:

A total of 16 cows were enrolled into the study for a total number of 64 teats; 32 teats received the test ITS and 32 teats received the “ORBESEAL”-brand ITS. The teat length and volume for the test population is shown in Table 1:

TABLE 1 Mean, Standard Deviation, and Standard Errors for Teat Length and Volume by Compound Group A Group B (“ORBESEAL”-ITS) (Test ITS) N Mean S.D. S.E. N Mean S.D. S.E. p Length 32 5.12 0.88 0.16 32 5.11 0.86 0.15 0.95 Volume 32 23.60 8.61 1.52 32 25.72 9.73 1.73 0.36

There was no significant difference in teat length or volume for teats in Group A or Group B (p>0.36). Overall teat length was 5.11 cm, ranging from 3.3 cm to 7.3 cm. The average teat length was 5.12 cm for Group A and 5.11 cm for Group B, and ranged from 3.3 cm to 7.3 cm for Group A and from 3.5 cm to 7.10 cm for Group B. A two Sample paired t-test was performed to test the null hypothesis that the mean teat length in the two treatment group did not differ. There was no significant difference in teat length between teats randomized to receive either product (p=0.95).

The overall teat volume was 24.66 cm³, ranging from 12.47 cm³ to 54.34 cm³ (std. dev. 9.17 cm³). The mean teat volume was 23.6 cm³, ranging from 12.54 cm³ to 54.34 cm³ (std. dev. 8.60 cm³) in Group A. In Group B, mean teat volume was 25.71 cm³, ranging from 12.47 cm³ to 48.25 cm³ (std. dev. 9.73 cm³). A two sample paired t-test was used to test the null hypothesis that the teat volume in the two groups did not differ. There was no significant difference in teat volume between teats randomized to receive either product (p=0.95 and p=0.35; log transformed analysis).

Hyperkeratosis: Teat-end health was scored for hyperkeratosis using the following scale: No ring (N), Smooth Ring (S), Rough (R), Very Rough (VR). The distribution of teat scores was: N (n=21; 32.8%), S (n=31; 48.4%), R (n=11; 17.2%) and VR (n=1; 2%). An X² test confirmed that the distribution of hyperkeratosis score was not associated with treatment group (p=0.13).

TABLE 2 Descriptive Statistics for Hyperkeratosis Group A (“ORBESEAL” Group B ITS) (Test ITS) Overall Score Frequency Percent Frequency Percent Frequency Percent N 13 40.63 8 25.00 21 32.81 S 11 34.38 20 62.50 31 48.88 R 7 12.88 4 12.50 11 17.19 VR 1 3.23 n/a n/a 1 1.56

Amount of Sealant Administered, Recovered and Lost: Statistical analyses using a paired t-test were performed to determine if the amount of sealant administered, recovered, or lost (not recovered) did not differ based on treatment group.

TABLE 3 Two Sample Paired t-Test for the Mean of Administered, Recovered and Lost Sealant by Product Group A (“ORBESEAL” Group B ITS) (Test ITS) Overall N Mean S.D. N Mean S.D. N Mean S.D. P Administered 32 3.46 0.85 32 3.77 0.96 64 3.62 0.91 0.12 Recovered 32 0.85 1.42 32 0.79 1.57 64 0.82 1.49 0.89 Lost 32 2.71 1.37 32 3.04 1.55 64 2.88 1.46 0.40

Of the four (4) grams in each tube, the overall amount of sealant administered was 3.62 grams. There was no significant difference in the amount of “ORBESEAL”-brand ITS (3.46 gram) or test ITS (3.62) administered (P=0.12).

Overall, the amount of sealant recovered was 0.82 gram and there were no significant differences based on treatment (P=0.89). The overall amount of sealant lost was 2.88 grams and did not differ by treatment group (P=0.40). The amount of sealant recovered tended to be associated with recovery date (P=0.08) with more sealant recovered on day 14 as compared to other recovery periods (day 14, recovery=1.6 grams; day 28 recovery=0.68 grams; day 42 recovery=0.65 grams; calving recovery=0.33 grams).

Simple linear regression was used to determine that there was no significant relationship between the amount of administered sealant and teat volume (p=0.59, p=0.53).

For the recovered sealant a simple linear regression test was performed to test the null hypothesis that there was no significant linear relationship between the amount of recovered sealant and the teat volume. Only 6% of the recovered sealant was accounted for by teat volume (P=0.05).

The proportion of administered sealant was not significantly associated with teat volume, while the recovered sealant was correlated significantly with the teat volume but only for a small proportion (6%).

A one-way ANOVA was used to determine univariate relationships between the amount of administered and recovered sealant and the teat position, the product, the cow.

TABLE 4 Administered and Recovered Volume Univariate Association Table (P values) Administered Recovered (p) (p) Teat volume 0.53 0.13 Teat position 0.56 0.52 Product 0.19 0.88 Day — 0.07 Cow 0.05 0.17

Example 3

The object of this Example was to develop an ITS with improved cleanability properties. In this Example, an ITS similar to the one described in Example 1 was made, but the mineral oil gel was replaced with a triglyceride-based mobile phase. These sealants, which are preferred, proved to have good barrier properties, as well as improved cleanability properties using conventional teat-cleaning protocols (as compared to mineral oil-based sealants). Milk producers have found that it is extremely difficult to remove residual from conventional, mineral oil-based ITS formulations from milk contact surfaces using standard cleaned-in-place (CIP) procedures. Therefore, an ITS which has good barrier properties and which is also easy to clean from surfaces that contact milk is very desirable in the market.

Due to various factors, many milk producers do not adequately remove ITS from the udder before milking. It is unlikely that this outcome can be eliminated through training and education efforts. Furthermore, many milk producers do not routinely achieve the recommended temperature and cleaning compound concentration requirements during clean up, thus exacerbating the build-up of residue from conventional ITS formulations on milking equipment. Dairy producers' cleaning practices are not likely to change through education efforts. However, a viable approach to improving the cleanability of residual ITS resides lies in altering the chemistry of the ITS product itself.

The salt component of the ITS, whether it be bismuth sub-nitrate, zinc oxide or some other salt, is not influenced or solubilized to any great degree using standard cleaning protocols. The salts themselves are dispersed particulate matter. The salts are not soluble in either the continuous gel phase (conventionally mineral oil), nor in the aqueous cleaning phase. Further still, the mineral oil component (a viscous mixture of alkanes) of an ITS product is essentially non-reactive to standard cleaning chemicals (e.g. chlorinated alkaline cleaner). Mineral oil is also sufficiently non-polar to resist solubilization by aqueous cleaning solution. In short, once an ITS comprising a mineral oil gel phase is deposited onto a milk contact surface, it is extremely difficult to remove the ITS using standard cleaning protocols.

The role that mineral oil plays in an ITS formulation is as an inert continuous phase dispersant. The present inventor has discovered that this role can also be played by materials such as a mono-, di-, and/or triglyceride oil. The benefit of replacing mineral oil with, for example, a triglyceride material, is that unlike mineral oil, triglyceride is reactive to the most common milk equipment cleaning agent, alkaline cleaner (i.e., sodium hydroxide). Fatty acids esterified as glycerides are chemically converted at high pH with sodium hydroxide into their corresponding sodium salts, e.g. sodium stearate, and are readily removed from surfaces and dispersed into the aqueous phase of the cleaning solution. Triglyceride oils such as corn, cottonseed or canola oil are readily available, are heat stable (for sterilization purposes), and can be altered to have different stability and melting properties.

Glyceride-based ITS's compare very favorably with mineral oil-based ITS's in terms of barrier properties. The triglyceride-based ITS's also exhibit at least a 10-fold improvement in cleanability as compared to mineral oil-based ITS's. Because of the improved cleanability, a triglyceride-based ITS may utilize a bismuth-containing salt, such as bismuth sub-nitrate as the salt component.

To test ITS's made from a glyceride gel base, a small clean-in-place (CIP) loop was constructed. The CIP loop comprised an 11-gallon tank, flexible sanitary lines, a centrifugal pump, a throttling valve, and a digital flow meter. For test surfaces, 2″×2″ coupons of 316 stainless steel and plastic were used. The cleaned coupons were weighed. Samples of known weight of ITS were then applied to the surface of each coupon and the coupons weighed again. The coupons were then washed in the CIP loop. Each coupon was inserted into the end of one of the flexible lines of the CIP lop and held in place with a hose clamp. The pump was then turned on and the flow rate modulated with the throttling valve to achieve the desired target flow rate as displayed on the digital flow meter. A digital thermocouple was used to monitor the temperature. With the coupon and ITS treatment in place, the system was filled with hot water at 130° F., the pump turned on and adjusted for flow. One (1) oz of chlorinated alkaline cleaner per gallon of water in the CIP loop was added and the system was allowed to operate for 10 minutes. The coupon was removed, dried and weighed to determine the amount of ITS removed.

The results demonstrate that there are no unique differences in cleanability between the “ORBESEAL”-brand ITS and the zinc-based ITS described in Example 1, both of which use mineral oil as the gel phase. See Table 5, shown in FIG. 5, n=3. Table 5 depicts the weight percent removal of ITS treatments from stainless steel and plastic coupons. Key: ss=stainless steel surface; pl=plastic surface; orb=“ORBESEAL”-brand ITS; zmo=zinc+mineral oil; zcot=zinc+cottonseed oil; zcan=zinc+canola oil.

In contrast, ITS formulations made with a triglyceride as the gel phase, rather than mineral oil, resulted in a dramatic (e.g., 10-fold) increase in the degree to which the residual soil is removed. See FIG. 5. Without being limited to a specific mechanism, it is believed that the improved cleanability is a result of the increased chemical reactivity of triglyceride as compared to the non-reactive mineral oil. In short, the ester bond of the triglyceride material is readily hydrolyzed by the basic cleaning agent (NaOH). As such, the soil is dispersed into the aqueous phase as a sodium salt of the corresponding fatty acids.

Example 4—Dairy Product Reactivity

Fluid milk samples (2% homogenized, vitamin D) were inoculated with 0.05 wt % of each ITS treatment and stored at 45° F. for two weeks. Afterward, the samples were visually evaluated for signs of spoilage using sensory methods using an expert panel (n=4). There were four ITS treatments evaluated, including “ORBESEAL”-brand ITS, Zn/mineral oil, Zn/canola oil, and a control sample. The panelists were asked to use a difference from control assessment. In short, the panelists were asked to evaluate the control sample, then rate the treated samples on flavor with the control milk as a reference. Results were as follows:

There were no visual signs of protein destabilization whatsoever. Each of the treated milk samples appeared undistinguishable from the control. Flavor assessments yielded similar results in that no significant flavor defects or attributes arose as a function of the presence or type of ITS treatment.

Cheese analysis is still in progress. Freshly made mozzarella and cheddar cheese samples were manufactured and the surfaces were treated with ITS, vacuum packaged, and are currently in an aging program. To date, no deleterious signs or appearance defects are present.

Example 5—Yogurt Fermentation and Sensory Assessment

Three different yogurt fermentations were conducted in order to investigate a possible effect of the presence of the ZnO sealant or the “ORBESEAL”-brand ITS on the final sensory characteristics of this fermented product. In previous experiments, it was determined that the presence of such materials did not alter the drop in the pH of the product in a noticeably way. Hence, the following experiment was performed: 50 mL of pasteurized milk were place in three sterile 100 mL flasks, and inoculated with 0.5 mL of a suspension containing Lactobacillus delbrukeii spp. bulgaricus (in Elliker's broth, previously incubated for 24 hour at 37° C.). 50 mg of “ORBESEAL”-brand ITS was added to one of the flasks and 50 mg of the ZnO sealant to other (65% in heavy mineral oil), the third flask was used as the control treatment. The flasks were incubated overnight at 37° C. and assessed for differences in the final pH, as well as flavor and aroma profiles.

Results: The final pH of the three fermented products was very similar, and ranged between 4.45 and 4.5. No differences in flavor and aroma profiles were detected between the three treatments when tasting the final products.

Example 6—Density of ITS Formulations

The densities of 7 different zinc-based ITS formulations were determined and compared to “ORBESEAL”-brand ITS. Aliquots (400 μL) of each of the sealant preparations were weighed using an analytical scale. Table 6 summarizes the results obtained for each sample. The tabular entries correspond to the average of at least 10 measurements with corresponding standard deviations. In general, the density of the suspensions increased when using higher amounts of ZnO. The performance criterion was a range of 5-10% of the density of the original “ORBESEAL”-brand ITS. This is a range of from about 1.817 to about 2.009 g/mL at the 5% level and about 1.722 to about 2.104 g/mL at the 10% level. All of the samples tested fell within these parameters with the exception of the 60% ZnO Canola Oil treatment at the 5% level.

TABLE 6 Densities of Different ITS Formulations. Product Density (g/mL) Orbeseal 1.913 ± 0.018 65% ZnO (Heavy Mineral Oil). 1.907 ± 0.023 65% ZnO (Light Mineral Oil). 1.902 ± 0.011 70% ZnO (Ligth Mineral Oil). 1.915 ± 0.007 65% ZnO (Canola Oil). 1.990 ± 0.010 63% ZnO (Canola Oil). 1.870 ± 0.029 60% ZnO (Canola Oil). 1.732 ± 0.036 65% ZnO (Cottonseed Oil). 1.937 ± 0.010

Example 7—Viscosities of ITS Formulations

The viscosities of newly prepared ITS comprising zinc oxide, aluminum stearate, and canola oil was determined, at several temperatures, using a Brookfield Digital Viscometer Model DV-I Prime (Brookfield, Middleboro, Mass.) fitted with a S06 Spindle at 2.0 rpm. The effect of the temperature on the viscosity of these new ITS formulations can be observed in FIG. 6. Data at lower temperatures (−15° C.) is in progress. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of forming a physical barrier in the teat canal of a non-human animal for prophylactic treatment of mammary disorders during the animal's dry period and simultaneously preventing black spot defect in dairy products made with milk from the animal, the method comprising: infusing an amount of a teat sealant into the teat canal of the animal, wherein the teat sealant comprises a non-toxic metal salt dispersed in a gel base comprising a glyceride, wherein the non-toxic metal salt is present in the teat sealant in an amount of at least about 50% by weight of the teat sealant, wherein the non-toxic metal salt comprises a bismuth salt, and wherein the teat sealant is devoid of anti-infective agents, wherein the amount of the teat sealant infused is sufficient to form a physical barrier to entry of microorganisms into the teat canal, and wherein the teat sealant does not cause black spot defect in dairy products made with milk from the animal.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the bismuth salt comprises bismuth subnitrate.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the glyceride comprises a triglyceride.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-toxic metal salt is present in the teat sealant in an amount of from about 50% to about 75% by weight of the teat sealant.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-toxic metal salt is present in the teat sealant in an amount of about 65% by weight of the teat sealant.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-toxic metal salt further comprises a salt selected from the group consisting of a titanium salt, a zinc salt, a barium salt, and a combination thereof.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-toxic metal salt further comprises a salt selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, barium sulfate, and a combination thereof.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the teat sealant has a density of from about 1.722 g/mL to about 2.104 g/mL.
 9. An intra-mammary teat sealant comprising, in combination: a gel base comprising a glyceride; and a non-toxic metal salt dispersed in the gel base in an amount of at least about 50% by weight of the teat sealant, wherein the non-toxic metal salt comprises a bismuth salt, wherein the teat sealant is devoid of anti-infective agents.
 10. The teat sealant of claim 9, wherein the bismuth salt comprises bismuth subnitrate.
 11. The teat sealant of claim 9, wherein the glyceride comprises a triglyceride.
 12. The teat sealant of claim 9, wherein the non-toxic metal salt is present in the teat sealant in an amount of from about 50% to about 75% by weight of the teat sealant.
 13. The teat sealant of claim 9, wherein the non-toxic metal salt is present in the teat sealant in an amount of about 65% by weight of the teat sealant.
 14. The teat sealant of claim 9, wherein the non-toxic metal salt further comprises a salt selected from the group consisting of a titanium salt, a zinc salt, a barium salt, and a combination thereof.
 15. The teat sealant of claim 9, wherein the non-toxic metal salt further comprises a salt selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, barium sulfate, and a combination thereof.
 16. The teat sealant of claim 9, wherein the teat sealant has a density of from about 1.722 g/mL to about 2.104 g/mL.
 17. In a method of forming a physical barrier in the teat canal of a non-human animal for prophylactic treatment of mammary disorders during the animal's dry period, the method comprising the step of infusing a teat sealant into the teat canal of the animal, an improvement comprising: infusing a teat sealant as recited in claim
 9. 